Type-justifying mechanism



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0. MERGBNTHALBR. TYPE JUSTIFYING MBGHANISM.

No. 565,483. Patented Aug. 11, 189.6.

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e o MBRGENTHALER TYPE JUSTIFYING MECHANISM.

Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

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110. 565,483. Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

IIHIIII iiiil NITED STATES ATENT rrrcn.

OTTMAR MERGENTHALER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL TYPOGRAPHIO COMPANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

TYPE-JUSTIFYING MECHANISNI.

SIPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,483, dated August 11, 1896.

p Application filed October l5, 1889. Serial No. 327,079. (N0 milden To all whom zit may concern: The mechanism for assembling and operat- Be it known that I, OTTMAR MERGENTHA- ing the matrices and spaces and the casting LER, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, and distributing mechanisms may be of any have invented certain Improvementsin Typesuitable construction, but I prefer to make 55 5 J ustifying Mechanism, of which the following use of the spacing mechanism shown in the is a specification. accompanying drawings and forming part of The present invention is intended more the present specification. particularly for use in connection with the For the purpose of illustration I have repso-called linotype-machines for which nuresented my present improvements applied 6o ro merous Letters Patent of the United States to a machine such as shown in Letters Patent have beenheretofore granted to me. In these of the United States No. 436,532, issued to me machines a series of matrices representing the on the 16th day of September, 1890, to which characters to be printed in one line of a page reference may be had for a detailed descripor column are assembled temporarily in line, tion of those parts foreign to the present in- 6 5 15 properly separated by spaces, across the open vention, which are not described herein.

front of a mold which is subsequently filled In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is with molten metal, the result being the proa front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a duction in the mold of a bar or linotype bearperspective View of one of the space-bars and ing on its edge the characters or type promatrices such as are used in connection there- 7o 2o duced by the matrices. The -linotypes rewith. Figs. Sandiare front elevations showqure to be of uniform length, and since the ing in outline the composing, justifying, and spaces between the matrices cannot be detercasting mechanisms. Fig. 5 is a view on a mined in the course of composition or assemlarge scale showing a matrix with a beveled blage, so as to secure therequisiteadjustment lower end to facilitate the entrance of the 75 of the matrices, it is necessary to insert minispaces. mum spaces in the matrix-line in the course The matrices forming the basis of the maof its composition, and then, when the line is chine consist, as shown in Fig. 2, each of a so nearly full that no additional word or syli'lat metal plate Y, provided with sustaininglable can be inserted, to increase the width of shoulders y at its corners and with the intaglio 8o 3o the spaces until the line is extended to the character or matrix proper, y', on one edge,

predetermined length. It is to secure this inas in my previous machine. It is the princicrease of the spaces and effect what is known pal function of this machine to assemble these in the art of type composition as justificamatrices representing the required characters tion of the line,77 and at the same time effect in line side by side and present them across 8 5 3 5 the closure of the mold where the spaces octhe mouth of the mold.

cur, that my invention is designed. Z represents the space-bar in the form In carrying my invention into practice I such as I propose to use, made, preferably, in make use of a series of independent spaceone piece, of an elongated form, with susbars adapted to be set into the line of matrices pending-shoulders e at the upper end and of 9o 4o and to be advanced endwise therethrough, increasing thickness from one end to the each bar increasing in thickness step by step other. It will be observed that the bar is not from one end to the other, so that as it is adtapered after the manner of the wedge, but vanced it presents an increasing thickness in that it increases in thickness step by step, the line. By thus adjusting the space-bars being composed of lengths or sections e2 z3 95 45 endwise, equally or unequally, individually .24, &c., each of uniform thickness, but of or in series, as circumstances may demand, I different thickness from the other sections. am enabled to secure a practically perfect The several sections are united by inclined justification of the line, butin order to sesurfaces z5, which admits of the bar being cure exact justification Iintrod uce, when deforced endwise between the alined matrices reo 5o manded, a iinal space into the line either at in order to introduce its succeeding sections the ,rear end or elsewhere. into the line, and thus increase the separation of the adjacent matrices and the length of the line.

Referring now to the machine, Arepresents the main frame; B, a magazine in which the assorted matrices are contained and from which they are delivered through suitable escapement devices actuated by finger-keys E, representing the respective characters.

F are guides by which the falling matrices are directed upon the inclined traveling belt G, on which they descend one after another into the open top of the assembling-block H, where they stand in line side by side, their advance being caused by the corners of the rotating angular block g', around which the belt passes.

P is the magazine in which the space-bars are suspended and from which they are discharged by finger-key mechanism one at a time, so that they descend like the matrices into the assembling-block to t-ake their places in the line.

The assembling-block II is mounted to slide upward under the influence of a hand-lever 7a, to lift the composed line of matrices and space-bars to the level of a fixed guide K, which is suitably slotted to admit of the line being shifted horizontally therethrough into the vertically-movable yoke L, by which the line is first lowered to the mold N, and finally, after the casting operation, raised to the distributing mechanism O, which acts to sepa rate the space-bars and matrices and return them to the receptacles from which they started.

j and j represent two shifting-finge1's, so called, mounted on independent horizontal slides and connected by a rod jf', which limits their separation and determines the length to which the line can be expanded by the space-bars. A spring j* applied to the rod urges the shifting-arms toward each other. Before the assembling-block leaves the matrices the shifter-arms are separated from each other to allow the line to pass between them, after which they are moved to the left, carrying the line of matrices between them until the matrices reach the yoke L, as before referred to.

The matrices and space-bars, when lowered by the yoke, are suspended in front of the mold N, which is in the form of a vertical disk with a slot or mold proper therethrough. VVhile the matrices are thus held in front of the mold the elongation of the line is limited and the line of matrices held in firm contact side by side by horizontallymovable clamping-jaws M M.

The foregoing parts are of essentially the same construction and operate in practically the same manner as in the application above referred to.

In fitting the machine to operate spacebars such as herein shown, which differ from the tapered bars of the previous machine, I provide means of any suitable character for forcing the space-bars endwise through the line after the composition is completed, and also to provide means foriintroducing an additional wedge, to effect the final j ustiiication, while the line is in front of the mold.

In Figs. l, 3, and t the mechanism for advancing the space-bars (shown at Q) is located in or below the stationary guide K, (see Fig. 1,) and consists, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1, as follows: A horizontal rock-shaft Q, mounted in a foreandaft direction in the frame, is provided at one end with a springarm Q', through which it receives a constant motion from pitmen Q2, attached to a rotary crank Q3. A cross-arm Q4 is fixed on the rockshaft and connected at opposite ends by links Q5 to two Vvertical slides Qi and Q7. The slide Q7 is provided at its upper end with an upwardly-extending finger Q8, connected thereto by a horizontal pivot Q97 the finger being arranged to vibrate at its upper end from right to left, so that its upper end may move horizontally with the space-bars at the saine time that it is being carried up or down by the slide. The motion of this finger is limited by a stop-pin Q10, against which its lower end is held by a spring Q, acting to resist the vibra tory motion and to return the finger to its normal position whenever it is disengaged from the spacebars. The second slide QG is provided with a pivoted finger Q12, mounted and operated in the same manner as the finger already described, but differing therefrom in that it extends to a greater height. By means of the operating devices the two fingers are moved constantly upward and downward, one rising as the other descends, directly under the path traversed by the matrices and space bars in the course of their passage from the elevated assembling-block I'I to the yoke Ii.

The action of these parts is as follows: As the composed line is moved gradually to the left through the guide K the space-bars stand in their lowermost positions and as their lower ends pass over the finger Q8 it acts upon them one after another and pushes them upward through the line the length of one section, causing each bar to present in the line a thicker portion than it did in the first instance.

Owing to the fact that the nger is pivoted its upper end may move laterally with the space-bar while acting thereon, so as not to interrupt the advance of the line. If' the advance of the space-bars one step is sufficient to space out the line to the predetermined i.

length, a further movement will be unnecessary; but if, as is usually the case, a further advance of the bars or part of them is :necessary it will be automatically effected by the action of the second finger Q12, which in its turn acts upon the space-bars in succession, as they are carried ther-cover, and which by reason of its greater length lifts them above the level to which they were lifted by the first finger.

If it happens that the required extension of the line is effected by the advance of a part IOO IIO

of the space-bars only, it will manifestly be impossible to crowd the remaining bars farther into the line. In this event the spring q will yield and allow the crank to turn without lifting the fingers, although they will encounter the lower ends of the space-bars, as before. The only essential feature of the invention in this regard lies in introducing a yielding connection between the upper ends of the ngers and the mechanism by which they are operated, the fingers being also mounted to move laterally, or in the direction of the length of the line, and it is manifest that the details in this regard may be varied at will.

It is also to be understood that the number of fingers may increase to any extent desired and that they may be modified in form and arrangement at will provided only they are adapted to move the space-bars upward successively through the line.

After the line has been approximately justified by the operations just described, and after it has been lowered to its position opposite the mold, a final and complete j ustioation is effected bya vertically-movable wedge R, with an easy or gradual taper, arranged with its upper end in position to ascend through the line adjacent to the last spacebar, that is to say, between the last space-bar and the next succeeding matrix. The Wedge is pivoted at r to a vertically-moving slide 7", mounted in the frame. At the lower end the wedge has a lateral finger r2, which on the descent of the slide encounters a stop-screw r3, by which the upper end of the Wedge is thrown to the right out of an operative position. the finger is lifted out of contact with the stop and a spring r4 acts to throw the upper end of the Wedge to the left and against the spacebar with which it operates, so that the continued upward motion causes the Wedge to pass through the line, thus completing the justification. The lower ends of the matrices may be slightly beveled or rounded to facilitate the entrance of the wedge.

In Fig. 3 the dotted lines indicate the position of the line at the time of its composition, while the full lines illustrate the manner in which the line is carried over the lifting-fingers and the space-bars acted upon by said fingers.

In Fig. 4 the full lines illustrate the matrices in their final or casting position in front of the mold.

Vhile I have illustrated my improvements in connection with the linotype-machine, it is to be understood that they may be used in any machine in which a series of matrices, type, or dies require to be assembled in line and justified.

In Letters Patent issued to me on the 16th day of September, 1890, No. 436,532, I have shown a series of continuously-tapered spaces, the spaces without steps, combined wit-h means by which they are started through the When the slide rises with the wedge,

line successively and advanced unequal and uncertain distances. The present mechanism is distinguishable from said patent, among other things, by the fact that the present spaces in crease in thickness step by step, and by the fact that the present mechanism advances the stepped spaces through the line successively, so that as j ustiication progresses the number of' spaces which may have their shoulders partly entered in the line is reduced in number, usually to a single space,

so that the final space to be filled to complete eXact justification will be very small.

I believe the present to be the first instance in which any mechanism has been devised for successively and automatically introducing into the line spaces of predetermined thickness in order to reduce the final space as far as possible and admit of final justification being readily effected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a justifying mechanism, aline of matrices or type and a series of stepped spacebars, in combination with mechanism for inserting said bars -in the line, in the course of composition, mechanism for thereafter advancing said bars endwise to effect approximate justification, and means for introducing into the line, a wedge to complete the j ustification.

2. In a mechanism for justifying a composed line of matrices or type, the combination of a series of stepped space-bars adapted to be introduced into the line during its composition, a guide to sustain and permit lateral movement of the line of type and spacebars, mechanism for moving said line laterally and a reciprocating nger or pusher arranged in position to act upon the space-bars and move them sucessively through the line as they are brought within reach of said pusher by the advance of the line through the guide.

3. In combination with a line of type, stepped space-bars in said line and means for guiding and advancing the line of matrices and space-bars laterally, a series of reciprocating fingers or pushers located in the path of the space-bars and arranged to act successively on said bars to advance them different distances through the line.

4. In a mechanism for justifying alined matrices or type, the combination of the stepped space-bars adapted to be inserted in the line, one or more reciprocating fingers or pushers to advance the space-bars endwise through the line, supporting or clamping devices to hold the line after the space-bars have been thus advanced, and a wedge adapted for insertion into the line substantially as described and shown.

5. In combination with the guide for sustaining a line of matrices and stepped spacebars therein, and shifting devices to move the line laterally, a reciprocating nger to push the space-bars endwise through the line,

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said ingerbeing pivoted and adapted to move laterally with the space-bars.

6. In combination with a line of matrices and intermediate space-bars thicker at one end'than at the other, means for shifting the line laterally, a finger to act upon the spacebars successively and advance them through the line as they pass thereover, and a yielding mechanism to reciprocate said finger: whereby the bars may be advanced one after another until the line is approximately justified and certain of the bars advanced beyond the others if demanded.

7. The combination with the series of matrices and stepped space-bars of the composing mechanism, the Avertically-movable asseinbli11g-block,the laterally-movable shifter, the vertically-reciprocatin g pushers or fingers, the vertically-movable yoke to receive the line of matrices and space-bars, the clampin g-jaws to coniine the line, and averticallyreciprocating wedge to enter said line.

S. The combination of the clamping-jaws and the yoke to sustain the line of matrices, the vertical slide, the wedge mounted on said slide and adapted to move laterally as well as longitudinally.

9. The combination of the j ustifying-wedge, the slide to which it is-pivoted, the stop to throw the wedge laterally when retracted and the spring to throw it in the opposite direction when advanced.

l0. In a justifying mechanism, a device unattaehed to the spaces for adjust-ing the spaces endwise in the line, and adapted to move in the direction of the length of the line.

ll. In a justifying mechanism, as a means of adjusting tapered or expansible spaces endwise through the line, a pushing or advancing device independent of the spaces movable in -the direction of the length of the space, and also movable laterally, that is to say, inthe direction of the length of the typeline.

12. In combination with a series of type matrices or dies,and a series of stepped spaces, means for advancing the spaces successively definite distances through the line, whereby the line is elongated step by step predetermined amounts.

18. In combination with a line of type matrices or dies a series of spaces each thicker at one end than the other, and means for advancing the spaces through the line step by step predetermined distances to effect justification.

14. In a justifying mechanism, and in combination with a series of stepped spaces, mechanisin for advancing said spaces through the composed line predetermined distances.

l5. In a justifying mechanism and in combination with stepped spaces, a reciprocating space-advancing finger mounted to yield both laterally and longitudinally.

1G. In a justifying mechanism, and in combination with a series of stepped spaces, mechanism for advancing part of the spaces in the line to predetermined points,withcnt advancing the remainder.

17. In a justifying mechanism in combination with a series of stepped spaces, a plurality of fingers acting successively to advance the spaces different distances into the line.

1S. In a justifying mechanism, the combination of a series of stepped spaces, mechanism for advancing these spaces to predetermined points to give approximate justification, and means for giving nal exact justi- Iication.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of October, 1589, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

OTTMAR MERGENTHALER.

Vitnesses:

PH. H. HOFFMAN, THos. FRELAND ELLIOTT. 

